William c



(No Model.)

W. G. WHITTLE.

BUOY.

No. 890,050. Patented Sept. 25, 1888.

III

INVENTOR:

WITNESSES BY ATTORNEY.

Unrrnn rains \VILLIAM G. YVHITTLE, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

BUOY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,050, dated September 25, 1888.

Application filed June 23, 1858. Serial No. 278,036.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM O. WHITTLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Norfolk, in the State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements -in Buoys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a buoy for indieating a navigable channel or to mark the position of an obstruction to navigation.

The object of the invention is to provide the buoy with a bell, gong, or other audible-signal device so constructed and arranged that the current of water,either of a streamer that caused by the flow of the tide, will cause the signal device to sound.

Buoys have heretofore been arranged and provided with bells and whistles to give warning of their position at night and during thick and foggy weather; but their action has been dependent on the existence of waves to give oscillation to the buoy, and thus cause the clapper to strike the bell,or,in the case of the whist1ing-buoy,to produce a compression of air sufficient to sound the whistle. hen a calm prevails and the water has little or no wavy movement, the audible signals of such buoys cease.

My improved signatbuoy operates on a different principle. I provide means whereby the current of water will set in motion the hammer which strikes the bell or signal device, and thus, even in a perfect calm, the buoy will give audible signals.

The invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical section of the buoy and its attachments made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an inverted or bottom View to show the propeller, the rods to which the mooring-chain is attached being re moved. Fig. 3 is a top View with the hood removed. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are views of the signal device and connected parts.

The shape, size, and construction of the buoy-floatA areimmaterial. Any of the wellknown structures now in use will answer. A tube, 1), extends axially or vertically through it and opens through each end, so as to make the buoy air-tight. A shaft, 0, occupies the tube,and its ends project above and below the (No model.)

buoy-ends, and it is free to turn in the tube. The lower end of the shaft has a wheel or propeller, D, of suitable character to be turned in one direction by the current of water, and its upper end carries a gong or hell, E, and a head, f, on which a hammer, g, is pivoted,and

the parts are so constructed and arranged that when the said shaft 0 turns the hammer 9 will strike the gong.

It is obvious that the particular construction of the mechanism for actuating the hammer to cause it to strike may Vary from that shown in the drawings. In the present instance studs h, two in number, are placed in position on the perimeter of a turret or stand, F, secured to the buoys top around the shaft 0, and the aforesaid head f has a cylindric flange, i, which takes around the turret F. The head f on the shaft 0 has friction rollers or casters is, (see Figs. 5 and 7,) which travel around on the top of the turret and sustain the weight. The hammer g is pivoted at Z to the headf, and one end projects beyond the head-rim and has on its under side a roller, m, which impinges against the studs h when the said head and hammer rotate. A spiral spring, it, serves to draw the roller end of the hammer to one side-that is, toward the direction in which the said roller end moves. As the head f rotates, the roller on of the hammer will come in contact with the said studs, and the sp'ri ng a thereupon willyield sufficient to allow the roller to escape or pass the stud. The moment it passes the springn will retract and draw on the pivoted hammer, thereby causing the spring end 9 of the hammer (which has a striker-head, g) to strike on the inner side of the gong E. As the roller m of the hammer passes each stud h the signal will sound. The studs which operate the signalstriker may be placed so as to give to each buoy an individuality, in order that one buoy may be distinguished from another. For instance, one stud alone may be used, or two close together, or three close together, or one alone and then two close together, and so on ad infim'mm.

In order to reduce friction of the turning shaft 0, the top and bottom of the buoy is provided with a box, 0, containing rollers 19 and constituting a friction-roller bearing.

A suitable hood or bonnet, G, is supported on top of the buoy and covers the bell or signal device, as shown in Fig. 1, and protectsit from the weather. This hood may be secured in any desired or convenient manner, and preferably in such way as will admit of its ready removal, so as to afford access to the signal device or the connected mechanism.

Rods q are attached to the buoys bottom and project down and surround the propellerwheel D, and have a swivel-eye, 'r, for attaching the mooring-chain.

To prevent the buoy from revolving, which it has a tendency to do, from the fact that the wheel D turns in a horizontal plane, it is provided at one side with a stiff wing or vane, s, which projects laterally.

A sleeve, t, loosely surrounds the lower end of the shaft 0 between the propeller and the lower bearing, 0, and serves to prevent grass or weeds from entangling the shaft.

It is obvious that the number of rods g at the bottom may be increased to form a screen, or that a wirenet screen may be secured around the rods (1 at the bottom, and be so placed as to prevent trash of any kind from clogging the propeller-wheel D.

It will be seen that, however calm and free of waves the water may be, if the tide is running at all the signal will sound.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. A buoy provided with a hell or other audible-signal device, a hammer or striker attaehed to a revoluble head above the buoyfioat, a wheel or propeller below the buoy-float, and a vertical shaft to which both the said hammer-head and wheel are attached, whereby when the buoy is moored the How of the tide will revolve the wheel and cause the signal to sound.

2. In a buoy, the combination of a hell or other signal device, a tube extending through the buoy, a shaft occupying said tube and projecting above and below the buoy ends, a

wheel or propeller on one end of the said shaft, and a hammer or striker operated by the other end of the shaft.

3. In a buoy, the combination of a bell or other signal device, studs fixed stationary, a revoluble head carrying a pivoted hammer, which in turning impinges against the said studs, and a Wheel or propeller connected with said revoluble head, as set forth.

4. The combination of the buoy, a revoluble shaft, a wheel or propeller on one end of the said shaft, a signal-bell or other like device attached to the other end of the said shaft, and a hammer or striker operated by the revolution of the shaft.

5. The combination of the buoy, a turret, F, secured to the buoy and provided with studs h, a revoluble head, f, carrying apivoted hammer, g, which impinges against the studs, a signal-bell or like device, a wheel or propeller, and means connecting the latter with the revoluble head.

6. In a buoy, the combination of a hell or other signal device, studs fixed stationary, a revoluble head carrying a pivoted hammer, which in turning impinges against the said studs, rollers or casters attached to the said head, a wheel or propeller, and a shaft connecting the revoluble head and wheel, as set forth;

7. In a buoy, the combination of a bell or other signal device, a box attached to the buoy and containing frictioi'i-rollers, a shaft extending through the buoy and said friction-rollers, a wheel or propeller on one end of the said shaft, and a hammer orstriker operated by the other end of the shaft.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WM. C. WH ITTLE.

IVitnesses:

J OIIN E. Mortals, CHAS. B. MANN. 

